Chapter 10
Luke Olfenster is a beast. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be capable of such reckless behavior.
In the mirror, there was a bruise blooming between her chin and neck. Seeing the already sizable bruise, Chloe dabbed medicine on her neck. She had to conceal it somehow, even if it meant worrying about the reactions of the maids working in the mansion rather than Gideon’s, who was still out of touch after his visit to the palace. Even if she stayed inside the room, she couldn’t prevent the maids who cleaned and brought meals from entering.
“You said he wouldn’t touch me in that short time…”
Recalling Gideon’s futile plea, Chloe irritably applied medicine to her neck. The bruise was so distinct that there was no other excuse she could make.
Strong teeth, Luke. And a big mouth too.
She covered the wound with a piece of cloth and gently melted wax over it. After applying the salve, it seemed that as long as the hardened wax didn’t fall off, it would be fine.
Let’s not train for today.
The iron weights for physical training lying in the corner of the bathtub seemed to call out to her. Chloe sighed deeply and swallowed the lump in her throat. Then, she released the button at the end of her neck. After untying her tied back white hair, the woman who always looked in pain appeared in the mirror.
“It’s not Luke’s taste at all.”
Did Gideon really get so angry?
Reading the words, it seemed like he was just angry at Gideon, but wasn’t it a bit too much to bother her so much for that reason? Yet, it wasn’t like he was interested in her…
What’s certain is that doing this to someone you’re interested in is just asking for trouble.
Yeah. Not interested.
“And what if I were interested, now?”
As she deliberately voiced her thoughts, she felt strange. It seemed like she wished she had finally received his attention. But she had never wished for such a thing, not even during the time they were lovers.
That was fake.
Luke had consistently acted as a tender and caring lover, never once deviating from that act. How could he be so consistently affectionate to the point of feeling uncomfortable? Probably because it was never sincere. It was all an act.
Chloe Langsher, even during her glamorous days, never hoped for his attention. She had come to that conclusion.
But maybe she hoped he would recognize her at least a little. Despite portraying such a completely different image. Even if he did recognize her, it wouldn’t stem from positive emotions.
Chloe Langsher was nothing more or less than the daughter of his enemy, or a target of his resentment.
She swallowed the pill and got up. As she entered the adjacent room where the herbs were stored, she tried to clear her mind. But…
Lucas Ostis, who was once Chloe Langsher’s lover and another identity of Luke Olfenster, couldn’t help but recall the words he had said. At that time, he was affectionate, often smiled, and enjoyed kissing her cheeks and hair. Sometimes, he kissed her with such fervent eyes, as if truly in love. As someone who knew it was all an act, it wasn’t easy for her to endure such affectionate gestures.
That day, the man reluctantly looked down at the hand he held, then chuckled briefly. Pulling her close with a face that didn’t seem particularly happy, Chloe gently patted his back instead of pushing him away as usual.
“Sometimes I feel like you’re playing with me, Chloe.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“But why does it feel like you’re testing my patience?”
Chloe rolled her eyes at the muttered words. She wondered if something unexpected had happened, if his identity had been revealed, and so on.
“What’s going on today?”
“Because of you, Chloe. If you knew how much I think about you, you’d run away.”
Chloe didn’t take that at face value and only understood that something happened that he couldn’t talk to her about. So, she brushed it off like a joke and laughed.
“How much do you think about me, Lucas? All day?”
“Wow. Busted. Aren’t you scared?”
She remembered the voice that sounded so sincere. Even though it was all fake. Even though it was all acting. Despite knowing that…
“But still, don’t run away because you’re scared. Chloe. I won’t be able to find you…”
Liar.
Chloe muttered to herself as she tore the herbs with her hand. After concluding that Luke’s interest lay in “Gideon’s wife,” not in her, the strangely throbbing neck felt even more painful.
Was there ever a time when she was just Chloe Langsher to Luke Olfenster? Even once?
Not someone’s “something”?
“…What does it matter now?”
There won’t even be a chance to meet again soon.
—
“What are you doing here?”
Hayden reflexively frowned at the familiar voice. Turning around, he saw the white-haired woman standing at the end of the second-floor corridor.
“Damn it.”
The pale half of the woman’s face, slowly walking towards him, was obscured by the lackluster white hair, making it impossible to discern her expression, but there was doubt in her monotonous voice.
“Have you come to see His Majesty, Viscount?”
Actually, she was chased away rather than coming to see him, but Hayden just nodded vaguely. He didn’t want to mix words with the woman in front of him. As he tried to turn his body in the opposite direction again, she spoke up.
“It’s a good timing. There’s something to give to His Majesty…”
Despite her slow speech, in the blink of an eye, a small basket was nestled in his arms. Hayden grumbled irritably at the clean linen bag containing several small pouches in the basket.
“What is this?”
“It’s what His Majesty ordered. Would you take it in?”
Her expression, subtly distorted with reluctance to ingratiate, bothered Hayden. Suddenly, as if questioning why the emperor was mentioned, Chloe calmly added,
“It’s sleeping pills. His Majesty liked the herbs grown in this annex, so he asked to make them into sleeping pills…”
“Why you instead of a physician?”
“Because they were herbs I grew as a hobby.”
Something about her words irked Hayden, making his eyebrows shoot up.
“You’re enjoying your hobby and making a profit, huh?”
“… “
He always had a bone to pick. As if congratulating at his sister-in-law’s funeral. Chloe looked at Hayden, who seemed to linger at the mental age of a child whose older brother had been taken away, with a pained gaze before taking a step back sneakily.
Anyway, the message has been delivered, so it’s time to go back.
“Wait.”
Chloe was slightly surprised at the hand that grabbed her arm as she tried to step back. She wondered if the guy who left for a bath in broad daylight after bumping into her by accident was crazy.
“We should check what kind of medicine it is before presenting it to His Majesty. Let’s go to the physician together.”
The persistent words implied that if there was anything slightly suspicious about the sleeping pills, he would happily put her in jail and dance with his knife.
No, this guy would find something wrong even if there wasn’t.
Chloe sighed inwardly as she looked at the hand that tightly grabbed her, as if she were going to escort her. She regretted asking. It was a choice made not to encounter Luke, but somehow the result wasn’t very satisfactory.
But who would restrain this guy in this mansion without Gideon?
“I already sent some to the physician for verification.”
“How can you be sure that they’re the same as these? We need to test these separately-“
“Quiet.”
The split voice cut off Hayden’s words and echoed down the corridor. Chloe sighed inwardly and calmly turned her head. As expected, Luke Olfenster was leaning against the wide-open door, watching them.
He looked unusually tired and grim.
“Your Majesty.”
Hayden also sensed the atmosphere and hurriedly greeted, but the emperor ignored the greeting, silently staring at them before opening his mouth.
“…Are you planning to stick around?”
Chloe pushed Hayden’s hand aside and took a step back. Even though her expression was not clearly visible due to the smoke rising from the ignited cigarette, the slightly pursed lips indicated that her actions had irritated him to some extent.
Wasn’t the sound telling him to drop it? Why?
“Are you okay, Your Majesty? I’ve been worried not being able to see you in person after hearing the news. Is there anything uncomfortable about staying here?”
Hayden poured out his words without pause. Chloe seized the opportunity to silently step back, hoping to leave this place. But it was only two steps away when…
“Come here.”
“What do you want me to do…”
Ignoring Hayden, who was approaching hesitantly, Luke called out to the woman with white hair.
“Marie Edant. Come here.”
“Your Majesty, what has she done wrong?”
The question, full of distrust towards the woman called ‘Marie Edant,’ revealed Hayden’s suspicion. Only then did the emperor finally glance at Hayden with a frown. With an expression of displeasure, he quickly scanned Hayden from top to bottom, then paused and spoke up.
“…Bring that in and throw this away.”
‘That’ referred to the sleeping pills, and ‘this’ referred to Hayden. If one had any sense, they would understand. Chloe sighed inwardly again as she took the basket from Hayden’s limp arms. Moving even slower than her usual slow pace, she approached Luke cautiously and whispered softly.
“It would be more accurate to hear the explanation from the physician.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not here to hear explanations.”
“Then why…”
As her steps slowed down even more, Luke’s gaze became sharper. Without feeling the need to endure any longer, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.
“To hear your voice.”
Shall we try singing for real this time? He wrapped his arm around her waist as she followed. Unlike the coldness of yesterday, a warm breath escaped her as she leaned against him.
“Your Majes-“
Ignoring Hayden’s shocked face, he slammed the door shut. Regardless of what the other party thought, it wasn’t his concern.
